Public Statements

Sen. Paul Introduces Amendment to Discontinue Pay for Union Business on Government Time

Press Release

On Thursday, March 21, Sen. Paul introduced Amendment 509 to S.Con.Res.8, the Budget Resolution, which calls for the reduction of federal spending by ending the reimbursement of Federal employees for conducting union business while on taxpayer time. Currently, Title V of the U.S.C. Chapter 71 allows federal employees to use official time for union activities.

According to a survey conducted by the Office of Personnel Management, 3 million official time hours were used in collective bargaining or arbitration of grievances against an employee in FY2010. In FY2011, federal employees spent about 3.4 million hours conducting union business while on duty. This is a growth of almost 11 percent and this number has only been increasing over time. Also, in FY2011 the American taxpayers spent $155 million dollars for federal employee salary and benefits alone.

"Overall, federal employees are paid more than the private sector, and with great benefits. But federal employees are supposed to be public servants, not the other way around," Sen. Paul said. "These special interests should be conducted during free time, and not on the taxpayer's dime."